Short Answer: Pretzels are bad for acid reflux. Because they have refined flour, salt, and yeast and they can increase your stomach acidity, dehydrate you, and cause bloating and gas.
Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.
In acid reflux, your stomach acid flows back into your esophagus, irritating its lining and causing heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and other symptoms.
This can lead to various health problems, such as esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet.
What you consume can affect your stomach acidity, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume alkaline-rich foods like bananas, melons, oatmeal, and ginger, and avoid acidic-rich foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and coffee.
Now, pretzels are a type of pastry made from dough that is shaped into a knot or a loop and baked.
People usually eat them as a snack or a side dish, and they can be soft or hard, plain or flavored.
Pretzels are bad for acid reflux because they contain refined flour, salt, and yeast.
Refined flour can increase your blood sugar levels and trigger acid production in your stomach.
Salt can dehydrate you and make you thirsty, which can worsen your acid reflux if you drink too much water.
Yeast can cause bloating and gas, which can put pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter and allow acid to escape.
One pretzel can give you about 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and 380 milligrams of sodium.
That’s 16% of your daily sodium intake, which is already too high for most people.
Refined flour can increase your blood sugar levels and trigger acid production in your stomach.
Salt can dehydrate you and make you thirsty, which can worsen your acid reflux if you drink too much water.
Yeast can cause bloating and gas, which can put pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter and allow acid to escape.
Furthermore, pretzels are a type of processed food and processed foods are bad for acid reflux.
Because, they often contain artificial ingredients, preservatives, and additives that can irritate your digestive system and cause inflammation.
That’s why I suggest you limit your pretzel intake to avoid aggravating your acid reflux symptoms.
Stick to one or two pretzels per day to minimize the risk of heartburn, indigestion, and nausea.
Also, you shouldn’t eat pretzels if you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance to prevent allergic reactions and intestinal damage.
Because, pretzels are made from wheat flour, which contains gluten.
You can buy fresh pretzels in your local bakery or grocery store, or you can order them online.
Always choose whole wheat or gluten-free pretzels if possible.
Because, they have more fiber and nutrients than white flour pretzels.
You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing acid reflux effectively.
I always recommend my acid reflux patients to follow an acid reflux-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
